Coast Guard mourns death of its Visayas district head

The Philippine Coast Guard mourned on Wednesday the death of the head of its Central Eastern Visayas district on Tuesday night. Flags were ordered flown at half staff in Coast Guard districts by Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo in honor of Commodore Rolando Dizon, who died 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tamayo also enjoined all Coast Guard personnel to offer prayers for Commodore Dizon and his family, the Coast Guard said on its website. The Coast Guard will provide honors befitting a Coast Guard Flag Rank officer to the deceased. The ceremony includes a 21-gun salute, a vigil during the entire wake, flags flown at half-staff and a mass offering at the Coast Guard chapel. Dizon was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981. He served the Coast Guard and the Navy for 29 years. His colorful sea duty culminated with the successful command of Coast Guard search and rescue vessels BRP Ilocos Norte (AU-3501) and BRP Batangas (SARV-004). Surviving Dizon are his wife Ma. Lourdes Navarro-Dizon, and children Jose Roy Manuel, Rufino Miguel, and Michelle Veronica. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV